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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT |
Floods are never far away and this month it was Sydney’s turn as many suburbs experienced flash flooding. Justin Robinson from the Bureau of Meteorology advised that 91 mm fell in about 1.5 hours at Observatory Hill, making this a 1% AEP event. The Bureau now has a meteorologist based in the State Emergency Service operations centre, and from all accounts the response of the
two agencies during the storm was excellent.
Vale Jim Bodycott
On 8 November we lost one of the great Flood Champions, Jim Bodycott.
Jim was well known to many members of FMA, having been the Manager Flood at NSW Public Works and the Department of Land and Water Conservation during the 1990s until 2003.
Duncan McLuckie, OEH Principal Flood Specialist, spoke about Jim’s contribution to the advancement of Floodplain Risk Management at our recent NSW/ACT Chapter Meeting.
“Jim was passionate about and made a huge contribution to floodplain management in NSW. He, amongst others of his peers, pioneered the risk based approaches used in NSW today, formed the NSW Flood Warning Consultative Committee which continues to improve flood warning for NSW communities, and developed a close working relationship with the NSW SES to improve flood
emergency response in NSW. This left a legacy of significant improvements in flood risk management for many communities across NSW.”
Jim was a regular contributor to FMA Quarterly Meetings, provided numerous presentations at our Conferences, and formed lasting relationships with colleagues from the Association of State Floodplain Managers in the United States where he visited on several occasions.
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Ian Dinham | FMA President
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2019 CONFERENCE GALA DINNER VENUE REVEALED
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Have you started preparing your entry for the 2019 FMA Excellence Awards? Well, now is a good time to start as we can finally reveal the top-secret venue for our Gala Dinner in Canberra – Parliament House!
Imagine your work being recognised by over 400 of your peers inside the hallowed halls of Australia’s most famed building - sounds pretty impressive doesn’t it? Soaring ceilings, polished marble floors and staircases and exceptional culinary delights await you during the Excellence Awards next year.
The Awards are split into two categories;
FMA-NRMA Insurance Flood Risk Management Project of the Year; presented to a project that demonstrates the highest level of achievement in areas of flood risk management.
FMA-Allan Ezzy Flood Risk Manager of the Year; presented to an individual nominated by peers who demonstrates the highest level of achievement in areas of flood risk management.
The Awards serve as an opportunity for FMA to publicly acknowledge the outstanding work of FMA Members and individuals who are working towards creating a more flood safe nation.
FMA will be opening nominations in early 2019, so start getting your entry organised now to avoid missing out – this is an evening not to be missed.
For more information on Parliament House, please visit https://www.aph.gov.au
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OEH ARR16 TRANSITIONAL GUIDE AVAILABLE
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The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage has released a transitional guide for ARR16 this month; Floodplain Risk Management Guide – Incorporating 2016 Australian Rainfall and Runoff in studies.
The guide was developed to assist councils in the transition to ARR16 whilst preparing the development and implementation of their of FRM plans in accordance to the Floodplain Development Manual.
You can download the guide for free at the OEH website.
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STILL GOT YOUR FMA FUTURE DIRECTIONS SURVEY?
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During the most recent FMA Meeting in Sydney, the Executive asked Members to complete a Future Directions Survey regarding Floodplain Management Australia.
The survey results are very helpful in guiding development of our 2019 Operating Plan to ensure it is aligned with Members’ best interests, requirements and recommendations. We want to ensure that we are providing you with exactly what you need to help make your communities safer.
Thank you to all who have returned their survey, and for those that have not yet sent it through, it’s not too late! Please contact us and do so now.
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ONLY SIX MONTHS UNTIL CANBERRA 2019
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It is now only six months until the Floodplain Management Australia National Conference in Canberra and the Conference Committee is hard at work ensuring that this is the best FMA Conference we’ve ever had to offer.
This last month, FMA officially closed the call for abstracts and has received a record number of high quality abstracts covering a vast range of topics sure to inspire and inform delegates.
The Conference ‘A National Call to Action: Making Australia Flood Safe’ will be held over three days (14-17 May 2019) at the Hotel Realm, Canberra’s most exclusive 5 Star hotel adjacent to the Parliamentary Triangle.
Pre-Conference Workshops will be offered on the Tuesday (13 May) for delegates interested in:
- Introduction to Floodplain Risk Management;
- Modelling for Non-Modellers; and/or
- Total Flood Warning Systems.
(More information on the Pre-Conference Workshops can be found at the floodplainconference.com.)
If you have not been to an FMA Conference before, this is the perfect opportunity to become familiar with the most respected flood risk management event held in Australia and make new industry connections that could change your career.
Registrations will be opening very soon, so if you have not yet signed up to receive Conference notifications, visit floodplainconference.com now and click ‘Express Your Interest’ to make sure you don’t miss a thing.
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FLOOD PROFESSIONALS INUNDATE ROCKHAMPTON
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Pictured: FMA QLD Director Dwayne Honor discussing the 7x7m map of the Burnett Catchment in Rockhampton.
This month saw FMA go regional by hosting its very first Queensland Chapter Meeting in Rockhampton at the trendy venue Headrick’s Lane.
With over 50 attendees arriving from all areas of the state including Brisbane, Banana Shire, Livingstone, Isaac Region and Mackay, the day provided an excellent introduction to FMA for new visitors, and an opportune time for returning Members to reconnect.
Mayor Margaret Strelow from Rockhampton Regional Council attended the Meeting to explain the lengthy process of securing the recently announced $60 million funding for the South Rockhampton Flood Levee.
Mayor Strelow discussed the challenges of grant funding and offered motivational insight – that even though the process may be difficult, Councils should "not give up".
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Pictured (from left): Dwayne Honor (FMA), Mayor Margaret Strelow (Rockhampton Regional Council), Ian Dinham (FMA) and Peter Kofod (Rockhampton Regional Council) at the recent QLD Chapter Meeting.
The afternoon workshop Learnings from the Burnett River Flood Resilience Strategy was led by FMA Queensland Director Dwayne Honor (Bundaberg Regional Council), Graeme Milligan (QRA) and Stephen Dredge (Meridian Urban), and featured an in-depth discussion of an enormous 7m x 7m map of the Burnett Catchment.
The Workshop discussed how the map facilitated the formulation of the Flood Resilience Strategy by encouraging the sharing of localized, first-hand knowledge of flooding and risks in the areas of the map.
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FMA NSW/ACT MEETING ROUNDUP
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Pictured: Attendees of the NSW/ACT Chapter Meeting during discussions at the Workshop in Sydney.
FMA once again returned to the Bureau of Meteorology in Sydney for the NSW/ACT Chapter Meeting on the 22 November.
Over 65 flood risk professionals and industry representatives from around the state packed the room to discuss the latest news in all things flood-related.
The Meeting provided informative updates from the FMA Executive, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW State Emergency Service, Bureau of Meteorology, ACT Conference Hosts and State Emergency Service, and Manly Hydraulics Laboratory.
The interactive afternoon workshop Review of the 2007 NSW Flood Prone Land Planning Circular and Ministerial Direction engaged all attendees in thought-provoking discussion and insight.
The Workshop, led by Melanie Schwecke and Santina Camroux (Department of Planning and Environment) and Duncan McLuckie (Office of Environment and Heritage), looked to gather the views of FMA Members on the current Direction and the associated Circular and Guideline, how they relate to the Floodplain Development Manual, and what improvements are needed.
If you were unable to attend, details from the Workshop will be provided on the FMA website, Members’ Section soon.
Please save the date for our upcoming FMA Meetings for the new year in your diaries now:
February
Queensland Chapter Meeting
Wednesday 13 February 2019
NSW/ACT Chapter Meeting
Thursday 21 February 2019
May
QM + AGM at FMA National Conference
Thursday 16 May 2019
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TWEED SHIRE COUNCIL FLOODING SIMULATION
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Above: After 22 Hours Heavy Rain - photo credit Tweed Shire Council.
Tweed Shire Council has published a simulation video that shows the real risk of flooding in the Murwillumbah central business district as a way to create more community awareness in the area following the severe flood event in 2017.
The short video shows the three levees of Murwillumbah protecting the CBD during a range of flood events, but overtopping during an extreme event (500 year ARI flood) in the area.
While many Councils struggle to communicate the realistic risk of flood to their residents, this simulation demonstrates very clearly what areas will become inundated and how, and encourages communities to prepare their home emergency plans should this type of event occur.
FMA Technical Director Danny Rose (also Council Chair of the Tweed Floodplain Management Committee) said “In March 2017, the Murwillumbah CBD Levee began to overtop at the high school, but the heavy rain then stopped, saving the town from a truly catastrophic event.
"That flood in Murwillumbah was a 100-year average recurrence interval flood and for so many people it was devastating. We haven't yet seen a 500-year ARI flood in Murwillumbah but it could happen."
The video has been received very well by the local community, and you can watch it at Tweed Shire Council's My Property > Flooding page of their website.
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SEASON'S GREETINGS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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And last, but definitely not least, everyone at Floodplain Management Australia wishes you and yours a safe and joyous festive season.
We hope you get to enjoy some well-earned time off to spend with those closest to you.
We look forward to seeing you in the 2019 - Happy New Year!
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UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS |
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NO CURRENT VACANCIES.
If you are interested in promoting a vacant position with us, please contact us. |
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Pictured (from left): Mark Tinnion (formerly Brisbane City Council) and Jo Tinnion (Water Technology) at South Downs Way in East Sussex, UK, with their 2016 and 2018 FMA Conference Caps.
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